PARIS, Oct. 16, 2013  -- Midem today announces the official Call for Entries* for the 7th edition of Midemlab, the internationally-renowned Start-Up competition. The deadline for Midemlab entries is November 7.

Midemlab, presented by Vivendi, and, new programme sponsor, Pepsi, is dedicated to international startups offering digital solutions for audience engagement and content monetisation that can be used by music companies, artists and brands.

Thirty finalists will be selected by Midemlab partners Music Ally, the UK music business consulting company and bluenove, the French consultancy specializing in open innovation. Selected companies will pitch their business model to an international jury made up of leading entertainment executives, venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, incubator specialists and innovators in the digital media sphere, during Midem.

Midemlab provides startups with the opportunity to apply in three categories – music discovery, recommendation and creation; marketing & social engagement; direct-to-consumer sales and content monetization.

"Midemlab is a genuine business accelerator for startups looking to fast-track their projects. It provides entrants with access to feedback from potential business partners, gets considerable international media coverage for the companies and opens the door to future business partners," notes Bruno Crolot, Director of Music Markets at Reed MIDEM. "In the past, it has been an invaluable launching pad for startups with entertainment-related ideas such as SoundCloud, The Echo Nest, BandPage, Songkick, Next Big Sound and Mobile Backstage – to name a few."

Former Midemlab finalist Jules Terrien, Co-Founder and CEO of Audience.fm (France) recalls how his company benefitted from Midemlab exposure. "Midemlab was the perfect launchpad for Audience.fm. It allowed us to get industry validation, meet potential investors and customers and become an active part of the digital music eco-system."

Once again, Midemlab is sponsored by Vivendi. "Innovation is at the heart of Vivendi's content and media strategy," says Vivendi's EVP of Communications and Public Affairs, Simon Gillham."We work actively with numerous partners, including major international players and innovative startups, who are at the heart of transforming entertainment. Midemlab is an opportunity to develop relationships with startups at the beginning of their development."

In addition, Midem is pleased to welcome Pepsi as a first-time Midemlab sponsor. "PepsiCo is constantly on the lookout for fresh thinking and innovative talent to help drive the growth of our brands around the globe," says Frank Cooper, Chief Marketing Officer, Consumer Engagement, PepsiCo Global Beverages Group. "Our partnership with Midemlab builds upon Pepsi's rich legacy in music by supporting entrepreneurs striving to transform culture at the intersection of music and technology."

Composition of the jury

• Colette Ballou, Founder and President, Ballou PR (UK/France/Germany)
• Jon Bradford, Managing Director, TechStars London (UK)
• Harry Briggs, Principal, Balderton Capital (UK)
• Paul Brindley, CEO, Music Ally (UK)
• Heidi Browning, SVP Strategic Solutions, Pandora (USA)
• Stephen Bryan, SVP, Digital Business Development, Warner Music Group (USA)
• Mike Butcher, Editor At Large, TechCrunch (UK)
• Chuck D, Co-founder of Public Enemy, RAPStation.com & SPITdigital.com (USA)
• Martin Duval, CEO, bluenove (France)
• Denis Ladegaillerie, Founder and President, Believe Digital (France)
• Martin Mignot, Principal, Index Ventures (UK)
• Thibaud Morin, Senior Vice President Business Innovation, Vivendi (France)
• David Raichman, Creative Director, Experience Design & Innovation, OgilvyOne Worldwide/Ogilvy Digital Labs (France)
• Marcelo Sales, Founder, 21212 Digital Accelerator (Brazil)
• Daren Tsui, Vice President, Music Services, Media Solution Center America, Samsung Electronics (USA)
• Daniel Waterhouse, General Partner, Wellington Partners (UK)
• Pepsi executive (USA)

Midemlab is sponsored by Pepsi & Vivendi.

Bluenove, Music Ally, BITKOM, China Accelerator, East West Digital News, Music 4.5, Rude Baguette, Skolkovo, StartupBootCamp, Technode, and Wayra are partners of Midemlab.

*Midemlab entry submissions are open until November 7, 2013.Click here

About Midem – Midem is an annual international b2b event dedicated to the new music ecosystem, with a tradeshow, conferences, competitions, networking events and live performances. It's the place where music makers, cutting-edge technologies, brands & talents come together to enrich the passionate relationship between people & music, transform audience engagement and form new business connections. 

About PepsiCo 
PepsiCo is a global food and beverage leader with net revenues of more than $65 billion and a product portfolio that includes 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in annual retail sales. Our main businesses – Quaker, Tropicana, Gatorade, Frito-Lay and Pepsi-Cola – make hundreds of enjoyable foods and beverages that are loved throughout the world. PepsiCo's people are united by our unique commitment to sustainable growth by investing in a healthier future for people and our planet, which we believe also means a more successful future for PepsiCo. We call this commitment Performance with Purpose: PepsiCo's promise to provide a wide range of foods and beverages from treats to healthy eats; to find innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment by conserving energy and water and reducing packaging volume; to provide a great workplace for our associates; and to respect, support and invest in the local communities where we operate. For more information, please visit www.pepsico.com.  

About Vivendi
Vivendi groups together leaders in content and media. Canal+ Group is the French leader in pay-TV, also operating in French-speaking Africa, Poland and Vietnam; its subsidiary StudioCanal is a leading European player in production, acquisition, distribution and international film sales. Universal Music Group is the world leader in music; it recently strengthened and diversified its position with the acquisition of EMI Recorded Music.

In telecommunications, Vivendi owns GVT, the leading alternative broadband operator in Brazil, and SFR, a French leader in telecoms.